Paterson, reassuring

Here’s Gov. David Paterson heading into the Senate Democratic minority parlor for a quick (closed-door) visit.

The purpose was reassurance, Paterson said, explaining that he plans to tell Senators that he realizes the recently completed budget process wasn’t a paragon of openness, but that he’ll be having more open leaders meeting from now on.

He added that he hadn’t delved into budget issues since January (Spitzer’s sudden departure in March basically gave Paterson a one-month window to get up to speed).

Mostly, though Paterson said he wants Senators to know that he’s still pushing for more change and openness, despite the closed-door nature of this year’s budget.

“I’m coming to reassure them … I’m going to tell them that things have to change but I haven’t changed,” he said.

As to what Paterson has been hearing from his former colleagues in Senate minority: ”Nothing antagonistic, just that it should have been more open and they are right, this is an unusual circumstance,” said the governor.